Temptation 

   “Have courage and do not fear the assaults of the devil.  Remember this forever – it is a healthy sign if the devil shouts and roars around your conscience, since this shows that he is not inside your will.” St. Padre Pio 

   As hard as we try to live our life for God there will be temptations. We need not worry if we, with the help of God, resist those temptations,  Even when, in our weakness, we fall to Satan’s urges there is the recourse of confession to restore our relationship with the Lord.  The time to worry is when we are no longer tempted; Satan has no need to continue tempting those who belong to him.

   I’ve often read that the saints were pleased when Satan attacked them more forcefully for it said to them that they were close to God; only those close to God are so tempted.  They knew that, with God’s help, Satan could be defeated.

   Though we are all tempted, those temptations are not the same for each of us.  Satan knows our weaknesses and will focus on those things most likely to overcome our resistance.  We need to consider what our weaknesses are, and where Satan’s attacks may focus.  In this way we can better prepare ourselves for the battle.

   “No trial has come to you but what is human, God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength, but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor 10: 13).  We are no match for the lies and wiles of Satan, our weakness is no match for his strength.  We must turn to God, and seek His help to resist those temptations that are more than we can overcome.  With God on our side we can triumph over Satan and all his evil ways.